Investor



(No Model.) 1 R. J. GILMORE.

Button, Stud, 8vo. No. 243,119.v Patented June 21,1881i mum FIEJD.

INVENTDB= n Firms www nc.

UNITED STATES v PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT J. GILMORE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

BUTTON, STUD, 86C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,119, dated June 21, 1881.

Application tiled April 30, 1881. (No model.)

To all 'whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, ROBERT J. GILMORE, of the city and county of Providence, in the State of lRhode Island, havel invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buttons, Studs, 85o. and I do hereby declare that the following specification, taken in connection with the drawings furnished and forming a part ofthe same, is a clear, true, and complete description of my invention.

Myimproved button belongs to that general class of buttons which is distinguished from separable7 buttons, are readily entered into a button-hole, (of any of the several forms,) and retained therein by a change in the relative position of certain parts attached in various ways to the rear portion of the button. Among the buttons of this general class many have heretofore embodied a pair of winged or pivoted arms or plates, and these in turn may be properly subdivided into two divisions, one of which have arms or plates which so approach each other as to constitute for the time a prolongation of the shank or post (to the end of which they are pivoted) when adj usted for entering a button-hole, and which swing` downwardly away from each other, so as to stand, respectively, at practically right angles` to the post or shank when applied as in use. Another type of button, constituting the othersubdivision referred to, embodies slightly-curved arms or plates, which are housed within the shank or post when adjusted for entering a button-hole, but which project laterally therefrom when adjusted as in use, and it is to this last-named variety of buttons that my improvements specially relate. Heretofore, so far as -my knowledge extends, said housed wings or armshave been retracted and advanced by meansof a screw connectedwith the front of the button and tapped into a nut or plate, to which the wings or arms are pivoted at their inner ends, so that as the front of the button and the screw are rotated said plate is moved toward or away from the rear side of the front, and the wings or arms thereby retracted into the hollow post for releasing Jche button or projected therefrom to secure it in position for use. These buttons necessarily either require both hands to apply them or a attened shank or one provided with longitudinal webs to prevent their rotation in the ,button-hole, because it is essential in their use Yand this object is obtained by actuating the wings or arms by a sliding movement in the line of the shank or post, as distinguished from the rotative movement.

Another object of my invention is to render the button more easily and promptly applied and released than buttons in part rotated as described. I have also given due consideration to the matters of economy and simplicity in construction.

vIt is not broadly new with me to actuate wings or arms by a sliding movement in the line of the shank or post, that feature of operation being presentin the prior buttons in which said wings or arms are not housed, the movement having been therein effected by means of a sliding rod passing centrally through the front of the button and provided with a knob or thumb-piece, by which it may be grasped; but with my button no such rod is used7 and the front face of the button or stud, therefore, may be nished in any style desired, which is not the case with'the slidingpin buttons referred to, because of the necessary pressure of a central knob in some form.

The several features of my invention, after being fully described, will be designated in detail in the several claims-hereunto annexed.

Referring to thedrawin gs, Figure l, in two views, represents one form of my improved button, with its shank sidewise and edgewise adjusted for entering a button-hole. Fig. 2 represents, in two views, the same in central section in the plane of the axis of the shank.

Fig. 3 represents thc button as if applied in use, with its Ywings or arms projected from the housing-sleeve. Figs. 4 and 5 represent, respectively, the sleeve and the wings or arms IOO detached. Fig. 6 represents the front of the button and a post or stem attached thereto, with the wings or arms detached therefrom. Figs. 7, S, and 9 are, respectively, sectional, rear, and side views of a button embodying my invention, in a slightly-modified form. Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a button embodying my invention, having one pivoted wing or arm and a stationary arm or plate. Fig. 11 is a sectional view, illustrating the application to my improved button of a lock operated on the well-known push-pin principle.

The button-front A may be of any desired form. As shown it is recessed at the rear; but that feature is not essential or specially desirable, except with the push-pin lock shown in Fig. 1l. v

The housing-sleeve B may be variably employed. In Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, it is a part separate from the front of the button, and is capable of sliding to and fro therefrom, but in Figs. 7 to 9, inclusive, it is attached to the rear side of the button-front A. While I prefer the arrangement first shown, either may be employed in accordance with my invention, provided the sleeves possess the slots a near their outer ends and are internally fitted to receive a sliding member in the form of a stem or post, hereinafter described. Vhen constructed as shown in Figs. l to 4, inclusive, I prefer that the housing-sleeve be provided at its inner end with the flange b, with which the front sides of a button-hole engage while inserting the button. Said sleeve may be iiattened, as shown, for collars or cuffs, or it may be cylindrical, as usually desired in studs.

The wings or arms G are slightly curved, as shown; but their form otherwise may be varied-as, for instance, in a stud they should be narrow fingers, and in a cuff or collar button they should be as wide as might be desired, in proper proportion to the width of the shank. Instead of a wide arm, several narrow fingers side by side may be employed, all of them operating` as if united. These arms are hinged together at their inner ends and pivoted to the sliding post I) at its outer end. This sliding post may also be largely varied in its form and arrangement without departing from my invention. As shown in Figs. l to 3, inclusive, and in Fig. 6, it is attached to the rear side of the button-frontA after the manner of a shank, asin separable buttons, but in Figs. 7 to 9, inclusive, it is not so attached; but however otherwise arranged, the wings or arms are pivoted toits outer end, and it occuf pies sliding relations with the housing-sleeve B, and is so located internally' with relation to said sleeve that wings or arms at its outer or free end will pass freely from and into said housing-sleeve through the slots a near the outer end thereof. The illustrated variation in the construction and relative arrangement of the movable parts does not materially affect the result sought, for although the wings or arms in the button Figs. 1 to 3, when pro` jected, curve slightly toward the front A, and

in the button Fig. 7 they curve slightly in the opposite direction, they in both cases so far project beyond the sides of the sleeve as to result in a reliable connection of the button with the garment. With both forms ot' button the projection of the wings or arms from the housing-sleeve is eiiected by endwise pressure. The button Fig. 1, on being entered into a button-hole and pressed at the front, projects its arms either by contact of the iange b with the fabric, 0r the abutting contact ot' the outer end of the sleeve with any resisting surface; but the button Fig. 7, under the same circumstances, relies upon the abutment of the outer end of the post against a resistingsurface. For retracting the arms in removing the buttons each requires a movement ot' the stem or post independently of the sleeve, or vice versa, and this is effected preferably by seizing the inner end of the sleeve or the stem, as the case may be, or pressing the wings or armsinwardly and pulling slightly on thefront.

hile the two pivoted arms are preferable, it is obvious that asin gle pivoted arm may be employed with the same sliding stem or post, and a housing-sleeve having but one slot, a, provided, however, that a second arm, tiXed with relation to the sleeve, be employed therewith, as illustrated in Fig. 10, the fixed arm or plate c rigidly projecting from the inner end of the sleeve, so as to co-op'erate with the movable arm 0'; but in this case the button is inserted into a button-hole by entering the xed plate first edgewise, then turning the button and projecting the hin ged arm precisely as with the two-armed buttons previously described.

It is desirable that the sleeve and the stem or post be capable of being so locked with relation to each other that the undue longitudinal movement of either may he prevented. In the button Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, this is provided for by the slot d in the sleeve, and the pin d', (in the post,) which occupies said slot. In the button Figs. 7 to 9, the sleeve is internally recessed to afford the shoulder d2, and the stem is provided with a shoulder, d3, and the engagement of these shoulders with each other prevents a further separation of those parts.

1t is also desirable that the sleeve and stem or post be in frictional contact, so as not to slide too easily, and this may be attained by springs in. various forms. In the button Fig. l', this is provided for by a spring, e, formed by slitting the sleeve, so that its end bears with frictional contact against the stem, andin the but ton Fig. 7 by splitting the foot of the stern or post and expanding the same so that each half will bear frictiona-lly against the inner surface of the sleeve.

For locking or confining the sleeve and post together when the win gs or arms are projected and the button is applied as in use, various devices operating as a catch or lock may be employed. In the button Figs. 1 to 3, I provide the sleeve-spring e with an inwardly-bent end, as seen in Fig. 2, which enters the recess e in IIO the post; but a more positive locking device may be employed, as illustrated in Fig. 11, in which there is a spring push-pin, f, passing through the stem and arranged in a manner well known, with iingers f', which enter recesses or openings in the inner end -of the sleeve, as at f2.

I deem my button in either of the forms illustrated to be broadly novel, in that there are one or two movable arms, which are projected laterally from a sleeve which houses them by a longitudinal sliding movement in the line of the axis of the shank, as distinguished from the rotative movement heretofore requisite with buttons having similar movable arms, and a sleeve within which said arms are housed preparatory to insertion and removal.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In abutton or stud, the co mbination,with a sliding stem or post, and one or more wings or arms hinged thereto, of a housing-sleeve surrounding said sliding stem or post and provided with slots, through which the wings or arms are projected or retracted by the longitudinal movement of the sleeve or the post, substantially as described.

2. In a button or stud, the combination, with the sliding stem or post, the wings or arms hinged thereto, and the housing-sleeve slotted for the passage of the wings or arms, of a lock or catch for confining said stem and sleeve when the wings or arms are projected, substantially as described.

ROBT. J. GILMORE.

Witnesses:

F. C. RIDER, SAML. G. OoLwELL. 

